Attachment for mimeograph machines



Jan. 30, 1945. J. A. ELLIOTT, JR

ATTACHMENT FOR MIMEOGRAPH MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1943 INVENTOR JOHN fhELLloTT J'r. 94. 63- 4Q ATTORN EY Jan. 30, 1945. ELLlOTT, JR 2,368,124

ATTACHMENT FOR MIMEOGRAPH MACHINES Filed Feb. 1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 38 FIGZ. 24x41 1524 IIII'I, Z6 v 2e I 18 8 4. -a; 3o 12 24 I 24 15 we I) 15 17 29 34 INVENTOR JOHNA.ELLIOTT,Jr.

20 u, ATTORNEY Patented Jan. so, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHJHENT FOR MIMEOGRAPH MACHINES John A. Elliott. Jr., Teoneck, N. J.

Application February 1, 1943, Serial No. 474,409

Claims. (Cl. 34-151) The invention relates to an attachment for mimeograph machines.

when certain type papers such as bond paper or other hard or heavy papers are used in the mimeograph machine it is necessary to insert a slip sheet between each printed sheet as it comes oil the machine. This has to be done in order to prevent oifsetting which naturally ruins or spoils the work. Automatic slip sheet inserting devices have been built and are in use but they are expensive, complicated and oftentimes not too accurate. When the slip sheets have been inserted either by hand or mechanically after the job has been completed it is necessary to remove the slip sheets. This operation naturally consumes additional time and effort.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device of extreme simplicity, economical in construction and manufacture, efllcient in operation, and which will entirely eliminate the use of slip sheets in a mimeograph machine. While the attachment is particularly adaptcd for mimeograph machine its use in other fields in the printing art is not precluded.

Numerous other objects and advantages will become apparent as this specification proceeds. Referring to the drawings forming a part thereof andin which one form of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. l is a side elevation with parts broken away and part in section;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view with parts broken away and parts in section;

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-l. respectively, of Fig. l; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary detail longitudinal sectional views taken on the lines 5-5 and 6-4, respectively, of Fig. 2.

Referring again to said drawings, the reference numeral l0 designates the table of the mimeograph machine. Hinged at H to the table is a chute or trough H which terminates in a container or box l3. As the sheets leave the rolls of the mimeograph machine they enter the chute 12, pass downwardly therethrough, and into the container 53. To facilitate the entry of the sheets into the chute the ends of the chute are flared outwardly a indicated at H in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the operable position it will be noted (see Fig. 1) that the chute is angularly disposed in relation to the table of the mimeograph machine. The container |3 may rest on the floor or some suitable support. The angularity or the chute is such that the sheets will readily slide downwardly under force of gravity but at the same time they will not move too rapidly. The reason for this will become apparent hereinafter.

The chute comprises an upper wall l5, side walls lS-IB and a bottom H. The upper wall i5 and side walls l6 may be made of metal or any other heat resisting material. The bottom I1 is formed of mesh or screen or other suitably perforated sheet material or for that matter any material that is easily penetrable by heat.

A heating chamber I8 is located under the chute. As illustrated the heating chamber is provided with a plurality of electric lamps l9. Any suitable number of these lamps may be employed or other forms of heating means may be utilized. Obviously in the operation of the device if too much heat is being developed one or more of the lamps may'be turned oil.

The container or receiving chamber i3 may also be provided with a heating chamber 2|! in which one or more lamps 2| are located. The bottom of the container 13 may also be made of mesh or other heat penetrable material.

From the foregoing it is thought to be apparent that as the sheets slide down the chute and into the container the application of heat thereto will thoroughly dry the ink and thus avoid the possibility of oflsetting and thereby eliminate the use of slip sheets.

The chute and heating chamber may be formed of two or more sections which telescope one within the other. This is advantageous .where the mimeograph machine is located in cramped quarters or where it may be desirable to have a longer run for the sheets. As illustrated the chute and heating chamber are formed of two sections 22 and 23, the section 22 being adapted to telescope within the section 23.

The chute may also be provided with adjustable side plates 24 for the purpose of compensating for variations in the size of the, sheets being mimeographed. These adjustable side plates extend longitudinally for substantially the length of the chute and their lower edges are slightly curved as indicated at 25 to prevent the stock from being caught. The side plates 24 are adjustable inwardly or outwardly by studs 26 which are threaded into bosses 21 attached to or formed on the main side plates l6. The bolts have a swivel connection with the adjustable side plates.

When the operator is busy otherwise such as taking sheets out of the container or putting more sheets in the mimeograph bed or under other conditions excess heat may develop and this heat would tend to make the ink on the mimeograph drum more liquid thus interfering with the eflicient operation of the machine. To relieve this condition the upper part of the chute has an opening 28 from the upper edge of which a baille 29 extends into the chute. The opening 28 may be closed by a pivoted door 30 when it is desired to confine the heat. A hinged finger 3! holds the door 30 in its open position.

The container l3 may be provided with a removable basket 32 of the ordinary open wire type. When this basket is filled or substantially filled it may be removed to a warm place for further drying of the sheets and another basket substituted in the container. The container has a hinged door 33 which may be opened for the removal of the basket and closed to confine the heat.

In order to provide sufficient rigidity for the wire screen or mesh I! cross braces 34 extending at desirable intervals between the side walls l6 are utilized. These braces obviously also function to tie the side walls together and thus reinforce the structure as a whole.

To facilitate the removal of the sheets and prevent unnecessary bending of the operator the chute may be raised to a horizontal position and supported there as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1. For this purpose a support 35 is pivoted at 36 to the chute. In the operative position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 this support is confined by a pivoted latch 31. When it is desired to raise the chute to a horizontal position the latch 31 is released and the support 35 is dropped. The chute has a handle 38 which is grasped when raising or lowering it.

At the lower end of the chute adjacent the entry to the container the chute may be provided with a slightly raised hump 39. This hump acts to slow up the sheets slightly and to give them a nicer action as they enter the container, thus causing them to land flatly so that even if there were still a damp spot the tendency to smudge would be greatly lessened.

A thermometer 40 may be provided to indicate the degree of heat in the chute. Should the thermometer indicate the heat to be excessive one or more of the lamps may be turned off.

Hinged inspection doors ll may be located in various parts of the chute. These doors provide for inspection of the sheets as they pass down the chute and also permit of access to the interior of the chute should perchance a sheet become caught in the chute. Obviously the upper wall or substantial parts thereof could be hinged for the same purpose.

As heretofore stated the drawings illustrate one embodiment of the attachment. Such changes in details of construction and arrangements of parts as would occur to one skilled in the art are to be considered as coming within the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims I claim:

1. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent oil'setting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angularly disposed chute having its bottom and top-walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform crosssection and leading from the table of the mimeograph machine said chute being comparatively long in comparison to its width and disposed at such an angle that the printed sheets from the mimeograph machine will slide slowly through it under the influence of gravity, 8. con ainer at 15 lower end of said chute for the reception of printed sheets from the mimeograph machine the bottom of said chute being in the same p ane for its entire length and being formed of a material easily penetrable by heat, and means for supplying heat to pass through said bottom and dry said sheets as they are passing tnrough said chute.

2. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent offsetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angularly disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform crosssection and leading from the table of the mimeograph machine, said chute being comparatively long in comparison to its width and disposed at such an angle that the printed sheets from the mimeograph machine will slide slowly through it under the influence of gravity, a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of printed sheets from the mimeograph machine. means for applying heat to said sheets as they are passing through said chute, and means for applying heat to said sheets in said container.

3. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent ofisetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angularly disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform cross-section and leading from the table of the mimeograph machine said chute being comparatively long in comparison to its width and disposed at such an angle that the printed sheets from the mimeograph machine will slide slowly through it under the influence of gravity, said chute being formed of an upper wall and side walls of heat resisting material and a bottom wall lying in the same plane for its entire length and being made of a material easily penetrable by heat, a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of printed sheets from the mimeograph machine, and means for applying heat to said sheets through said bottom as they are passing through said chute.

4. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent offsetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angularly disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform crosssection and pivoted to the table of the mimeograph machine said chute being comparatively long in comparison to its width and disposed at such an angle that the printed sheets from the mimeograph machine will slide slowly through it under the influence of gravity, said chute being formed of an upper wall and side walls of heat resisting material and a bottom wall lying in the same plane for its entire length and being made of a material easily penetrable by heat, a heating chamber positioned under said bottom. heating means in said chamber for supplying heat to said chamber for drying said sheets as they pass through said chute. and a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of said printed sheets from the mimeograph machine.

5. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent offsetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angular-1y disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform crosssection and leading from the table of the mimeograph machine said chute being comparatively long in comparison to its width and disposed at such an angle that the printed sheets from the mimeograph machine will slide slowly through it under the influence of gravity, a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of printed sheets from the mimeograph machine, the bottom of said chute being in the same plane for its entire length and being formed of a material easily penetrable by heat, means for supplying heat to pass through said bottom and dry said sheets as they are passing through said chute, and means near the upper end of said chute forpermitting the escape of excess hot air.

6. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent offsetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angularly disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform crosssection and leading from the table of the mimeograph machine, a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of printed sheets from the mimeograph machine, the bottom of said chute being formed of a material easily penetrable by heat, means for supplying heat to pass through said bottom and dry said sheets as they are passing through said chute, and means near the upper end of said chute for permitting the escape of excess hot air, said means comprising an opening in said chute, a baille extending into and substantially across said chute, and a pivoted door for said opening.

7. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent offsetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angularly disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform cross section and leading from the table of the mimeograph machine said' chute being comparatively long in comparison to its width and disposed at such an angle that the printed sheets from the mimeograph machine will slide slowly through it under the influence of gravity, a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of printed sheets from the mimeograph machine, the bottom of said chute being in the same plane for its entire length and being formed of a material easily penetrable by heat, and means for supplying heat topass through said bottom and dry said sheets as they are passing through said chute, said chute being formed of a plurality of sections capable of being telescoped one within the other.

8. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent oiisetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angularly disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform crosssection and leading from the table of the mimeograph machine said chute being comparatively long in comparison to its width and dispowd at such an angle that the printed sheets from the mimeograph machine will slide slowly through it under the influence of gravity, said chute being iormed of an upper wall and side walls 01' heat resisting material and a bottom wall lying in the same plane for its entire length and being made 0! a material easily penetrable by heat, a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of printed sheets from the mimeograph machine, means for applying heat to said sheets through said bottom as they are passing through said chute, adjustable side plates in said chute parallel to said side walls to compensate for variations in the widths of the sheets coming from the mimeograph machine, and means for moving said side plates toward or away from said side walls.

9. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent offsetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an anguarly disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform crosssection and pivoted to the table of the mimeograph machine, said chute being formed of an upper wall and side walls of heat resisting material and a bottom made of a material easily penetrable by heat, a heating-chamber positioned under said bottom, heating means in said chamber for supplying heat to said chamber for drying said sheetsas they pass through said chute, a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of said printed sheets from the mimeograph machine, said chute and said container being adapted to be moved to a horizontal position to make same more accessible, and a-support pivotally connected to the chute for holding said chute and its container in the horizontal position.

10. An attachment for a mimeograph machine to prevent offsetting and eliminate the use of slip sheets, said attachment comprising an angularly disposed chute having its bottom and top walls parallel so as to be of substantially uniform crosssection and pivoted to the table of the mimeograph machine said chute being comparatively long in comparison to its width and disposed at such an angle that the printed sheets from the mimeograph machine will slide slowly through it under the influence of gravity, said chute being formed of an upper wall and side walls of heat resisting material and a bottom wall lying in the same plane for its entire length and being made of a material easily penetrable by heat, a heating chamber positioned under said bottom, heating means in said chamber for supplying heat to said chamber for drying said sheets as they pass through said chute, a container at the lower end of said chute for the reception of said printed sheets from the mimeograph machine, nieans near the upper end of said chute for permitting the escape of excess hot air, said chute being formed of a plurality of sections capable of being telescoped one within the other, adjustable side plates in said chute parallel to said side walls to compensate for variations in the widths of the sheets coming from the mimeograph machine, and means for holding said chute in a horizontal position. JOHN A. ELLIOTT, JR. 

